Invitations
A pizza party calls for invitations featuring -- what else? -- pizza! Other invitations that can work well include those featuring such festive designs as party hats, streamers, presents, and noisemakers.

Decorations
Transport your party guests to Italy with decorations that conjure up images of this beautiful Mediterranean country: use a large Italian flag or map of Italy to decorate the walls; cover tables with red-and-white-checked tablecloths, and place several pots of real or faux topiaries around the room. Fill clear vases with a variety of colors and shapes of uncooked pasta to create eye-catching table centerpieces.

Activities
Keep guests busy before the cooking begins by giving each a wad of uncooked pizza dough to use as Play-doh. Have them sit at tables that are covered with plastic tablecloths, and encourage them to use their imaginations to mold the dough into a variety of fun shapes - animals, jewelry, and more. Bring out fresh dough when the time comes for pizza-making. Then, give each guest enough dough to form their own personal pizza. Provide tomato sauce, shredded cheese, toppings (such as mushroom or sausage slices), and spices for each guest to make their own customized pizza creation!

Snacks
Pizza’s the main treat here, but there’s plenty more that can complement it. Serve antipasto salad, pasta salad, garlic rolls, and bread sticks for a complete culinary feast!

Cake
Rather than a traditional cake, a pizza party calls for a pizza cake. To create this delicious dessert, top pizza dough with cream cheese, sliced apples, sugar and cinnamon, then bake. To serve, use a pizza cutter to divide the cake into enough slices for everyone.

Goody Bags
Since your guests will have eaten plenty at this party, send them home with non-edible treats instead: small toys, stickers, rubber stamps, a jar of bubbles, etc. For a fun twist, use small carry-out pizza boxes in which to place the goodies, rather than a bag.

Thank-you’s
Match your thank-you notes to your invitation, or choose a complementary design. Teach your child good manners by having him or her sign each note. In keeping with the Italian influence, add Signorino or Signorina before the child’s name. Also, don’t forget to mention what the gift was that you’re thanking the person for -- and how much your child enjoyed it!